Cigna Foundation Announces New Community Health Navigation Grants

BLOOMFIELD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

The Cigna Foundation today announced new World of Difference grants to non-profit partners who provide community health navigation. The grants are part of a $2 million commitment over two years, and support non-profits who are guiding at-risk individuals through the complex health care and social services systems.

"By focusing our giving on community health navigation, the Cigna Foundation is supporting the work of those non-profits who are helping to eliminate health disparities in communities nationwide by addressing the medical and non-medical needs of the underserved," said David Figliuzzi, executive director of the Cigna Foundation.

The following organizations have received 2016 Cigna Foundation World of Difference grants for their community health navigation programs:

• Clubhouse International, for work nationwide to address the health care issues of people living with mental illness. Clubhouse International will establish community partnerships and strong relationships with providers to overcome the traditional barriers to care of stigma and poverty among those with mental illness.
• New York Botanical Garden, for its work to improve health care for immigrant Caribbean and Latino communities. This year's grant incorporates work underway by the University of Miami's public health team to reduce cervical cancer in Miami's Haitian community, which is linked to the community's use of a plant-based product.
• Los Barrios in Dallas, to expand its Promotora de Salud program in a new clinic in the South Oak Cliff area, scheduled to open this fall. A Community Health Worker and nurses in the Promotora will focus on patients with persistent asthma.
• Fayette Community Hospital Piedmont Healthcare Sams Care in Atlanta, which ties community-based charitable clinics and Piedmont hospitals together to create a continuum of care, expands capacity at charity clinics, and enables disadvantaged individuals to navigate the health care and social service systems. Sams Care is targeted to low-income uninsured people in Coweta, Henry and Fayette counties.
• Forsyth Medical Center Foundation in Winston, N.C. for its African-American congregational program aimed at lowering the incidence of diabetes through comprehensive wellness services and lifestyle modification programs. The program includes a partnership with Winston-Salem State University, the YWCA of Winston-Salem, and Novant Health.
• Men's Health Foundation in Los Angeles, for its Community Wellness Center committed to reducing health disparities in a neglected region of Los Angeles County. Comprehensive clinical services will be available to patients, including diagnosis and treatment of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, sexual disorders, mental health and substance use issues.
• Sacred Heart Hospital in Allentown, Pa., for its wellness navigator and patient-centered medical home in downtown Allentown. The wellness navigator will receive training as a Community Health Worker through the Northampton Community College Center for Business and Industry.
• St. Vincent Healthcare Foundation in Billings, Montana, for a one-year pilot project with a case manager to address health care disparities among American Indian patients.

Other Community Health Navigation grants will be announced later this year and in 2017. For more information on the Cigna Foundation, go to www.Cigna.com/Foundation.

About the Cigna Foundation

The Cigna Foundation, founded in 1962, is a private foundation funded by contributions from Cigna Corporation CI and its subsidiaries. The Cigna Foundation supports organizations sharing its commitment to enhancing the health of individuals and families, and the well-being of their communities, with a special focus on those communities where Cigna employees live and work.

About Cigna

Cigna Corporation CI is a global health service company dedicated to helping people improve their health, well-being and sense of security. All products and services are provided exclusively by or through operating subsidiaries of Cigna Corporation, including Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company, Life Insurance Company of North America and Cigna Life Insurance Company of New York. Such products and services include an integrated suite of health services, such as medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy, vision, supplemental benefits, and other related products including group life, accident and disability insurance. Cigna maintains sales capability in 30 countries and jurisdictions, and has more than 90 million customer relationships throughout the world. To learn more about Cigna®, including links to follow us on Facebook or Twitter, visit www.cigna.com.

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